WASHINGTON: Four-legged participants in Animal Planet's "Puppy Bowl" have been coached by two of the most famous dogs in America: White House pets Bo and Sunny.

Michelle Obama and her furry companions recently helped more than a dozen pups from animal shelters around the country get ready for the canine competition during drills on the South Lawn of the White House.

FINDLAY, OHIO: A cat that spent at least three winter days in a northwest Ohio drainpipe has been rescued after initially refusing attempts to lure it out with tuna, the classic call of "here, kitty, kitty" and even a cellphone app that meowed.

The Courier newspaper (http://bit.ly/1d9g89t ) reports a resident in Findlay heard the cat's cries Wednesday. Groundskeepers at a school cut through the pipe Friday to free the orange cat, which was muddy, emaciated and hypothermic.

Auction for airline tickets to help homeless pets —PAWsibilties, Humane Society of Greater Akron is sponsoring an auction for two round-trip Southwest Airline tickets to anywhere in the continental United States. The auction that began Monday continues through 5 p.m. Jan. 17. All proceeds will benefit the animals awaiting adoption in the shelter. Tickets, which must be used by Nov. 1, 2014, are valued at $800. Visit the auction at pawsibilities.eflea.ca to begin bidding.